We are family

One of my fondest sports memories is from 1979 and the Pittsburgh Pirates run to win the World Series against Baltimore (which Pittsburgh won 4 games to 3). That was called the “We Are Family” season, which team captain Willie Stargell adopted as the theme song. Why? Stargell called the team, “the family;” and because, the song, written by Nile Rodgers and performed by Sister Sledge, is great, with an uplifting message, man. Here’s Willie’s explanation of the connection between the song and the team: “We won, we lived, and we enjoyed as one,” Stargell said. “We molded together dozens of different individuals into one working force. We were products of different races, were raised in different income brackets, but in the clubhouse and on the field we were one.”

Here are the lyrics to the song, “We are family”:

(CHORUS:)
We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up ev’rybody and sing

Ev’ryone can see we’re together
As we walk on by
(FLY!) and we fly just like birds of a feather
I won’t tell no lie
(ALL!) all of the people around us they say
Can they be that close
Just let me state for the record
We’re giving love in a family dose

(CHORUS x2)

Living life is fun and we’ve just begun
To get our share of the world’s delights
(HIGH!) high hopes we have for the future
And our goal’s in sight
(WE!) no we don’t get depressed
Here’s what we call our golden rule
Have faith in you and the things you do
You won’t go wrong
This is our family Jewel